Dear 6th Grade Parents,
In 6th grade, as children’s author Gary Paulsen says, we will “read like a wolf eats.”
I look forward to meeting everyone in the fall. In the meantime, here’s some information to digest over the summer about a subject dear to my heart: literature!
Reading will soon be a way for your emerging 6th grader to travel to some amazing places via my very own FREADom Classroom Library.
My best advice: make reading a daily habit.
Below are some books I strongly urge you to consider for your summer reading pleasure.
HUMOR
The Twits, by Roald Dahl
The misadventures of two terrible old people who enjoy playing nasty tricks and are outwitted by a family of monkeys known as the Muggle-Wumps. You’ll be laughing on the first page.
CLASSIC FICTION
The Magician’s Nephew, by C.S. Lewis
Find out how it all begins! This first novel in the Chronicles of Narnia series tells of the creation of Narnia by the great lion, Aslan. This is the story of Digory and Polly, two friends who, upon an accidental meeting with Magician wanna-be Uncle Andrew, find themselves in a head spinning adventure.
ADVENTURE
Woods Runner, by Gary Paulsen
Samuel, a talented woodsman, returns home from a hunting trip to find the Revolutionary War has touched his life in a horrific way. His house is burned down and his parents are missing. He immediately sets out to track his parents across the countryside. A gripping historical fiction you won’t be able to put down.
DRAMA
Every Soul a Star, by Wendy Mass
Allly has grown up at Moon Shadow Campground and her family is gearing up for a once in a lifetime total solar eclipse. Jack flunked science and his teacher enlists him to go to Moon Shadow Campground as his assistant rather than attend summer school. Bree, the fashionista, grudgingly travels to the camp with her family. When the girls learn that their lives are about to be flipped upside-down and inside out, the three teens turn to each other for support.
HIGH INTEREST NONFICTION
Bone Detective: The Story of Forensic Anthropologist Diane France, by Lorraine Jean Hopping
Diane France loves bones. Why? Because they talk to her! Every skeleton she meets whispers secrets about the life—and death—of its owner. Diane France can hear those secrets because she's a forensic anthropologist, a bone detective.
Whether you try out the above books or not, the important thing is: read every day!
Looking for quality family time? Share the above books with the whole family! Also, check out the the web site of Jim Trelease, who is helping children make books into friends, not enemies.
Want to get your guy to read? Check out the _empty">Guys Read web site.
Author web sites can be fun to visit, too, and I don't know an author who doesn't like to hear from readers. Besides this site, my author-sister Lorri's site with behind-the-scenes photos and info on Bone Detective, here are a few others worth exploring in preparation for next year's reading odyssey:
Roald Dahl
Chris Van Allsberg
Lois Lowry
Jerry Spinelli
Sharon Creech
Gary Paulsen
Let me know how it works out.